Days 261 to Day 264 – ITALY: Verona to Peschiera (Part II)


After Pa Pa Yaw and I went out separate ways, I continued on around the lake on the narrow cycle path. It was a great day. A fresh breeze was blowing, and the sun was shining.

I rounded a corner and saw that the cycle path finished up ahead. I went straight on and was just about to reach the road when a voice piped up in a perfect American accent.

“Hello there!”

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. This can’t be an Italian. He speaks too good English to be Italian.

“You speak English?” I replied.

Steve and his wife Jutta were sitting outside their house enjoying the afternoon sunshine. We got chatting, and they offered me a drink. It was hot. The drink with ice cubes in it was refreshing.

Before I knew it, I had met almost everyone who lived within a 50m radius of their place, including at least three dogs.

Steve and Jutta and neighbours in Peschiera, Italy

Rhiner and his family from Germany, the 80 year old owner of the hotel next door, the man with his plants, the woman who loved to talk and played a clown for local kids events, the adorable daughter of Rhiner, the cross-breed pooch who liked nothing more than to pee on anything in sight, the manicured princess of a pooch who couldn’t eat the dog bicuits whole (you had to bite them in half for her), and the smiling dog.

Steve and Jutta's house in Peschiera, Italy

It was getting late, and Rhiner asked when he got up to leave whether I would be staying the night. There was a moment of silence, and then there were shrugs of “I guess so”.

I spent a total of four wonderful relaxing days at Steve and Jutta’s place.

Steve and Jutta are both retired, but spent much of their lives in the air industry. Steve was a pilot for various airline companies, and Jutta was an air hostess. They entertained me with stories of life in the air and of the places they had been. What an interesting life they had both led and continue to lead in Italy.

During my time in Peschiera with Steve and Jutta, I went for an afternoon ride with Rhiner, who often cycled from his home in Germany to his holiday apartment in Italy. We cycled down the Mincio River that runs from Lake Garda, along a cycle path for about 13km.

Water channels for mills in Salionze, Italy

We ended up in Salionze, a smal picturesque town with water powered flour mills. Thanks to Rhiner for the very pleasant afternoon.

Waterwheel in Valeggio s. Mincio, Italy

So thank you to Steve and Jutta for such a wonderful few days relaxing in their little spot of paradise on the shores of Lage Garda in Peschiera. I will be back one day for sure!

A clown in Peschiera, Italy


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2 thoughts on “Days 261 to Day 264 – ITALY: Verona to Peschiera (Part II)

  • Hamada

    Rob,

    Nearly there now mate, remember to pedal slow.

    Can you us sbit more info on your bivy sack. I'm thinking about getting one.

    How do you rate it? Have you used it in heavy rain or deep cold? Is there a problem with condensation on the inside.

    Cheers,

    Ham (now in sunny Birmingham)

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Ham,

    You would not sleep well in a bivy sack if it was raining heavily on you or snowing on you. I think more of it as something to protect my sleeping bag from getting dirty when sleeping in damp and dirty old buildings or on dirty ground. I always choose a spot to sleep that is either covered, or there is a covered place of some sort that I can run to if it starts raining.

    Condensation is a problem. Even though my bivy sack has a breathable upper, as soon as the outer fabric gets wet, then the breathability stops. The outer fabric must be dry in order for a fabric to breathe. Once the DWR of an outer fabric wears off, the bag/jacket only breaths when the outer fabric is dry.

    But so long as during the day you get an opportunity to air the sleeping bag out, there is no problem. The problem would be if you are sleeping and riding in sub zero temperatures. The moisture in the down would never get a chance to dry, and the bag loses it's loft.

    I had that experience in Turkey. Even in a tent. The down will always absorb some of the moisture from your body. The down doesn't get a chance to dry properly.

    The Black Diamond hooped bivy sack looks OK though. The single hoop means that you'd have some more air circulation in the sack.

    Rob